In the meantime, here's some endgame rules to keep in mind. (B or F indicates whether the rule came from Ruben Fine or Pal Benko)
- Think about the endgame in the middlegame. (B)
- Exchanges. Someone gets the better deal. (B)
- The King is a strong piece. Use it. (F)
- If you are a pawn or two ahead, exchange pieces. (F)
- If you are behind, exchange pawns, not pieces. (F)
- If you have an advantage, do not leave all the pawns on one side. (F)
- A distant passed pawn is half the victory. (B)
- Passed pawns should be avvanced as rapidly as possibly. (F)
- Doubled, isolated, and blocakaded pawns are weak: Avoid them. (F)
- The easiet endings to win are pure pawn endings. (F)
- Passed pawns should be blockaded by the King, the piece that is not harmed by watching a pawn is a Knight. (F)
- Two Bishops, vs. Bishop & Knight constitute a tangible advantage. (F)
- Bishops are better than Knights in all except blocked pawn positions. (F)
- Do not place your pawns on the color of your Bishop. (F)
- The easiest endings to draw are those with bishops of oposite colors. (F)
- Rooks belong behind passed pawns. (F)
- A rook on the 7th rank is suffiecient compensation for a pawn. (F)
- Not all rook endings are drawn. (B)
- Perpetual check looms in all queen endings. (B)
- Every move in the endgame is of the utmost importance because you are closer to the moment of truth. (B)
(h/t to Malbase on Chessforums.org)
